Ok i want to replace my cap and rotor on my 1987 170hp 4.3 mercruiser but im not having any luck getting the dang screws to back out. Any thoughts on getting these out or if this is a common problem. Thanks
Grind the head of the screw's off flush to the cap and pull cap and work the remaining part of shaft out of base. Probably srewed past the threads or got them to tight if so you will need longer screws on the replacement cap with nuts on bottom side (pita) previous owner of my boat did this and thats what I currently have to put up with.
Doesn't take many years of working around salt water boats to know the above is the ONLY way to get the job done. I use Kroil instead of PB blaster, but the heat does most of the work.
After I got them out, I used to replace them with Stainless hex head cap screws. Those Merc screws look like someone put the slots in them with a chisel and they are steel in an aluminum hsg.
